February 28, 2005 Ice Fishing Report

Region A- Southwestern Maine

The Windham Rotary hosted yet another very popular and successful winter festival on Sebago Lake. Most years the weather has been very uncooperative, but at least Saturday brought bright sun, little wind, and very comfortable winter fishing conditions, not often seen on this large lake.

Strong winds and blowing snow on Sunday made for very different conditions, but perhaps more typical of this 2 day fishing event. Although the number of derby registrants was up this year, the togue catch was dramatically down from past years. An accurate count was not available at the time this report was prepared, but the total harvest of lake trout is expected to be about 1/2 that from last year.

A relatively large year class of smelt, and a growing adult smelt population has increased available lake trout forage in the lake, providing more competition for angler presentations. Some contend the full moon was another factor contributing to a lower catch. Although anglers would have liked to land more togue, everyone I spoke with was in good spirits and the news of a declining catch reflects positively on the Department's efforts to rebuild smelt forage stocks, and reduce the togue population in the lake. These measures are important components in rebuilding the salmon fishery and enhancing the size-quality of the lake trout fishery.

All available information indicates smelt stocks are up, togue catch is down, and condition of both salmon and togue is improving. It's also worthy to note that the winning catch continues to get larger each year. This year's top 3 winning togue weighed 22.34 lbs (Steve Emerson, Addison ME), 21.60 lbs (Roger Reed, S. Portland), and 16.61 lbs (Peter Conley, Albion ME).

Many anglers didn't fish the Sebago Derby on Sunday due to the strong winds, but instead headed for the smaller, more sheltered area ponds. Jim met several derby participants on Middle and Upper Range Ponds, where steady action for bass was reported. Good catches of bass in the 2 1/2 to 4 pound size range were commonly reported. A few anglers were even fishing for smelt in Middle Range, although reported catches of were light.

The month of March is typically not heavily fished, yet offers some great fishing, particularly for bass. March also brings with it some of the best winter fishing weather. In fact, I can recall fishing in just a shirt on several sunny outings in March, with no one else around, and bass biting all day long. The smaller, shallower area ponds in southern Maine offer some very productive fishing for bass this time of the year. Don't miss this exciting month to fish for bass.

-Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region B - Central Maine

I can't remember a winter when the bass fishing has been as good as this winter's. Not only are anglers reporting large numbers of bass caught, but the size quality is also very impressive. This winter I've measured 9 largemouth bass over 5 pounds, with the largest nearly 8 pounds, a true trophy for any angler. The smallmouth bass fishing has also been very good with 8 fish over 3 pounds measured. Inevitably, when I come across an angler with a large bass, the question of "how old is that fish" is asked. Then they are always surprised to learn how old those fish really are.

Each year, we collect age and growth data on bass, and our bass database now contains age information on over 4000 largemouth bass and nearly 6000 smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass generally are 1 year younger then smallmouth bass at a given length. The following table can be used to estimate the age of any bass you catch.

Largemouth Smallmouth Length Age Age 12 inches 4 5 14 inches 5 6 16 inches 7 8 18 inches 11 12 20 inches 15 16

Anglers fishing in Waldo County are reminded that two of the more popular waters, Swan Lake and St George Lake are closed to ice fishing February 28.

-Jim Lucas, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region C - Downeast

Many eastern Maine anglers love March fishing for either togue or white perch. While some prefer the stationary approach and set up 5 lines with live bait in hopes that hungry fish will keep the red flags flying, others prefer the "run and gun" approach of traveling around the lake on a snowmobile or ATV, cutting a jig hole, staying 15 minutes, then moving on until the fish are located. Often, this approach can be modified to look for ice fishing holes drilled in the past 2-3 days and open the skim coating of ice with either a chisel or a small hatchet or axe. Don't neglect jigging a Swedish pimple or a leadfish with a piece of cut bait when you ice fish - it often produces the best action of the day.

Good locations for togue this March are Tunk Lake, West Grand Lake, Green Lake, Branch Lake, Jordan Pond, and Beech Hill Pond. You also may catch a salmon at any of these lakes.

Good locations for white perch fishing are the Chain Lakes (Twp 26 ED), Bog Lake (Northfield), Pocomoonshine Lake (Alexander), Meddybemps Lake (Meddybemps), Georges Pond (Franklin), Graham Lake (Mariaville), and Webb Pond (Eastbrook).

Take the kids, cook some hotdogs, and enjoy the last few weeks of winter fishing because mud season, gardening, and lawn mowing will demand your time before you know it! Anglers in the western Hancock County area have experienced some good fishing recently for brook trout at Billings (First) Pond in Blue Hill and for brown trout at Walker's Pond in Brooksville.

Remember that March and early April are the months for spring sportsmen's shows and boat shows where you can inspect the latest in outdoor equipment and attend some seminars. Watch your local newspapers for details on times and places. It's a great way to spend a few hours on the weekend.

--Rick Jordan, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region D - Western Mountains

Decent weather during much of school vacation week provided extra incentive for parents and kids to get out in the fresh air - just what the doctor ordered! Much cooler temperatures and sharp winds arrived by the weekend and kept fishing activity to a dull roar. Sunday was particularly brutal with gale force winds causing whiteout conditions and building snowdrifts, making travel by snowmobile a bit cumbersome and uncomfortable. The few diehards we contacted on Spencer Lake, Wesserunsett Lake, Embden Lake, and Hancock Pond were having only spotty success, but most were enjoying themselves anyway.

The Upper Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a fishing derby on March 5 and 6 on Wyman Lake. Weigh-in times are at 4 PM on Saturday and 2 PM on Sunday at the Moscow boat landing. For more information contact Chester Hibbard at 672-3312, or Erin Marden at 672-3991.

Last week, the Rapid River Coalition and Fisheries Division staff selected a contractor to conduct a flow study on the Rapid River. Working closely with the Department and FPL Hydro, the owners of Middle Dam, the contractor will determine if "targeted flow velocities" can be used to reduce smallmouth bass production in the Rapid. Water flow manipulations would probably coincide with bass nesting and/or bass fry emergence. A late-winter discharge may also be considered because young bass, which have survived the winter solely on stored energy reserves, may be in such poor condition at that time that the extra flow could cause them to succumb. This project is one of several that we're contemplating for the Rapid. We'll keep you posted as things progress.

-Dave Boucher, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region E - Moosehead Region

Another Monday, another day of elevated media anxiety over an impending snowstorm. Seems that this year we have already had "the snow storm of the century", and "the mother of all snowstorms". I guess that leaves us to expect that this one will be "the mother-in-law of all snow storms". I hope everyone has their "storm pack" put away for disaster that surely awaits us. As for the fishery personnel in Greenville, it's winter, it's cold, the wind blows, it snows - so what!?! Keep your shovel handy, and deal with it!

February 28 marks the last day of the 2005 ice fishing season at three of the Moosehead Region's premiere fisheries: Big Houston Pond, Lobster Lake, and Allagash Lake. Of the three, perhaps Allagash holds the most mystique. Allagash Mountain stands sentinel over this 4,260-acre gem of a lake. Spruce, fir, pines and cedars guard its rock bound shoreline. Eagles and ravens patrol the sky overhead. A thick armor of ice, covered with a royal mantle of snow, guards the bountiful trout and togue resources that are the treasures of Allagash.

As if on a crusade, throughout February parties venture into the backcountry of Maine's North Woods to reach this, the Holy Grail of brook trout and lake trout fishing. Travel by vehicle ends 3 miles back from the shore of the lake, where snowmobiles take over as the principal means of transportation to the lake. At the shore the use of all motorized equipment ends, and anglers must walk out onto the lake and cut their holes with chisels or hand augers. Some anglers "crown" their day by staying into the evening to fish for cusk. Some anglers camp out overnight. In return for enduring conditions that were the norm in the north woods in "the good old days", most anglers are still rewarded with fishing like it used to be "back then", because at Allagash back then is also now.

To monitor the status of the Allagash fishery this winter, Moosehead Region fisheries personnel included it in their rounds during the month of February. On 3 out of the 4 weekends anglers were counted, fish were weighed and measured, and catch information was obtained from all parties interviewed. The results of this year's survey will be compared with those from previous seasons, and management of the lake will be adjusted as necessary to insure that the kingdom that is Allagash remains in fact all that is perceived to be.

At Moosehead Lake, the closure to the taking of salmon during the first half of the ice fishing season, and the 18-inch length limit for the last half of the season, are designed to help distribute the salmon catch between winter and summer fisheries. With the present lake trout abundance in Moosehead it is not possible to stock the number of salmon required to support two seasons of good salmon fishing. So the present management strategy is to allocate the big lake's resources to provide the greatest benefits to as many of its users as possible. Lake trout provide the opportunity for good fishing all winter long, but for most anglers, they are not easy to catch through much of the open water season. Salmon on the other hand, are easily caught both winter and summer. However, a large harvest of salmon during the winter would not leave many for the summer. Without a salmon fishery in the summer there would not be much of an open water season fishery on Moosehead, not to mention its tributaries and outlet, where salmon support popular fisheries from May through September.

Salmon have been legal fare for 2 weeks now, and unfortunately some anglers have little respect for the present attempts to provide good fishing for Moosehead anglers, both winter and summer. In patrolling North Bay last Thursday, Wardens Joel Wilkinson and Jared Herrick checked 9 parties. Four of the parties they checked had a total of 5 salmon in their possession. Four of the 5 salmon were less than 18 inches! The largest of the "short" salmon was 17 1/4 inches; the others all less than 17 inches. Such blatant disregard for fishing regulations leaves us wondering what is happening out there when no one is watching. One thing is for sure, fishery management objectives cannot be attained without the cooperation of fishermen. Life is full of things with which we disagree, but in the interest of the common good we ask all Moosehead anglers to act as if Joel and Jared were watching. And they will be!!

On Thursday, March 3rd we will hold the first of two public meetings to discuss fishing and fishery management in the Moosehead Region. The meeting will be held at the Four Seasons Restaurant, located on the right side of Route 201, just after you cross the railroad tracks as you enter downtown Jackman. It will begin at 7 PM. Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques and Advisory Council member Ray Poulin will join us and update everyone on happenings in Augusta that concern sportsmen and IF&W. Fishery biologists will then discuss and answer questions about their management programs, including stocking waters in the Jackman area. They will also look for public comments and suggestions on some ideas for possible future fishing regulation changes.

On Tuesday, March 8th, the venue will change, but not the program or the players. Beginning at 7 PM we will meet in Dover-Foxcroft at the Piscataquis Valley Snowmobile Clubhouse, which is located on the left off the Greeley's Landing Road (Route 153) just to the north of town. Sebec Lake and the Piscataquis River always generate some interest, and we are sure that there will be other questions about stocking and fishery management programs in the waters of southern Piscataquis County.

These meetings provide an opportunity for IF&W to listen to what fishermen have to say about their experiences, their concerns, and their expectations. This is an opportunity to get together, discuss the fishing with the people responsible for managing the area's fisheries, and to offer opinions on the past, present, and future directions of fishery management in the Moosehead Lake Region. Please come join us!!

Now, where is my emergency storm pack?

-Paul Johnson, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region F, Penobscot Region

Ice fishing in region F started out this winter with fast action and lots of excitement for the angler. In the past few weeks, things have slowed down to a crawl. Maybe the fish are suffering from mid-winter blues. If this is true, fishing should get better as spring draws near.

The Island Falls Winterfest Fishing Derby was held at Mattawamkeag and Pleasant Lakes on February 26. With the number of large salmon being reported from both lakes this year, I would think that there should be more than a couple of 5 pounders registered.

Again this past week and weekend regional staff checked Cold Stream, Schoodic and Lower Togue. A few fish were observed on all 3 lakes. This past weekend Cold Stream had 14 parties, they caught 3 lake trout, with the largest being 21"; and 2 landlocked salmon, the largest being 20". On Schoodic, we observed 25 parties catching 6 lake trout, with the largest being 21". Lower Togue had 3 parties, catching 5 splake, with the largest observed 14" long.

As you complain about the cold and snow of this week, remember, spring is just around the corner and so are the black flies

-Brian Campbell, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region G - Aroostook County

The end of February school vacation puts winter "over the hump", as we head toward the last half of the ice fishing season. Unfortunately, good fishing doesn't always match up with good weather, as the nice, warm, sunny days of late February and March do not seem to provide the fast fishing of January. One lucky angler from Enfield proved to be the exception this weekend. Local angler Rick and his wife were visiting their son Saturday, who was staying at a camp on Eagle Lake for a few days of fishing. Being the considerate son, he went out and drilled two holes for his parents to jig. After 10 minutes of jigging, Rick found himself in a tugging match with another denizen of the deep from Eagle Lake. Once landed, the fish was observed to be a 35+ inch togue weighing 17 pounds 10 ounces. It was also missing the right venrtal and dorsal fins indicating that it was stocked in 1971. This is the second 35-year-old togue from this 1971 stocking that has been caught from Eagle Lake in the Fish River Chain of Lakes in the past few weeks. As Mel Allen, the long time host of This Week in Baseball would say: "How about that!"

Switching gears to the upcoming open water season, we are proposing to embark on a stocking program of spring yearling brook trout from our wild strain of hatchery fish at Chase Lake, T9 R10 WELS, Piscataquis County. Sampling efforts in recent years indicate a low trout population in the presence of heavy competition from white suckers and yellow perch. Although this lake has not been stocked with hatchery trout in the past, Echo Lake located upstream, has been stocked with brook trout in the past and is presently being managed for splake. A popular North Maine Woods campsite is located on the shoreline and has an unimproved boat launch site. We are proposing this trout stocking program in an attempt to improve the trout fishing in this lake. The success of this stocking program will be evaluated through biological sampling and reports received from the district game warden and voluntary anglers.

A lake whitefish stocking program is also being proposed at 1st and 3rd Musquacook Lakes. We recently initiated a lake whitefish stocking program in 2nd Musquacook - these lakes are in close proximity and are considered to have low populations of lake whitefish. All three of these Musquacook Lakes are now closed to the taking of whitefish in an attempt to restore the wild population. The stocking program is an attempt to bolster the numbers of whitefish to enhance the possibility of increased natural reproduction. Public comments on these stocking proposals can be emailed to david.basley@maine.gov or via USPS to P.O. Box 447, Ashland, Maine 04732.

-Dave Basley, Regional Fisheries Biologist

From the Maine Warden Service...The Colonel's Outdoor Tip

For those ice anglers who ice fish on lakes and ponds where there is a good snow cover and do not have an ice shack, it is a good idea to bring along a couple of items to make your trip more enjoyable:

- a snow shovel is very useful when ice fishing for clearing places to set your tip ups, clearing out an area to set your equipment, food and bait and tackle and making a snow free place to stand/sit while you wait for "flags."

- a second very useful item for ice fishing when there is snow cover or slush on the lakes is a tarp. A tarp placed on the snow or slushy ice not only provides a dry place to sit but also prevents the loss of cooking utensils, fishing equipment and other belongings in the deep snow. Its great to have a nice dry tarp laid out on the snow to keep mittens, bait scoops and your thermos bottle on. Don't forget to anchor down each corner with ice, snow or some equipment to make sure it doesn't blow away.

As the sun gets stronger, ice fishing, especially on the warmer days, can be a very fun activity. So don't forget to buy a license and pick up an ice fishing law book and go ice fishing!

-Colonel Tom Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service

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